Four-Goal Rout at the Red Bull Arena

AC Milan claimed their first European win of the season in emphatic fashion, thrashing hosts RB Salzburg 4-0 on matchday 2 of the Europa League league phase at the Red Bull Arena on Thursday night.

The star of the night was Alphadjo Cisse. The 19-year-old Italian striker scored a hat-trick — his first goals in European competition and the first treble of his professional career. Substitute Goncalo Ramos added Milan's fourth.

Salzburg vs AC Milan Result: Cisse Hat-Trick Seals 4-0 Rout
San Siro, home of AC Milan. (Illustration photo, not from the Salzburg match.) (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

How the Match Unfolded

Milan opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Omari Hutchinson's cross was met by a Cisse header that beat goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky. In the 32nd minute, Cisse doubled the lead with a tap-in from Davide Bartesaghi's inviting pass. The 0-2 scoreline held until half-time.

Four minutes after the restart, Cisse completed his hat-trick. This time Adrien Rabiot was the provider with a through ball finished off by another simple tap-in. Milan's rout was sealed in the 72nd minute by Goncalo Ramos, who came off the bench to get his name on the scoresheet.

A Historic Night for the Wonderkid

Three goals in one night made Cisse the talk of the evening. Before this match, the Milan academy graduate had never scored in European competition. Coach Ruben Amorim showed faith by naming him in the starting lineup, and that faith was repaid in full.

The match also marked Fikayo Tomori's return to action after five months out. The English defender was solid before being withdrawn with cramp. Luka Modric and Christian Pulisic came on as second-half substitutes.

Table Impact and a Red-Card Stain

The victory lifts Milan to 11th in the league-phase standings with three points, bouncing back from the 0-2 defeat to Benfica on matchday 1. Salzburg, who had won their opener, are stuck in 18th on the same points tally.

The only blemish on Milan's night was Filippo Terracciano's red card. Introduced in the 67th minute, he was sent off around the 82nd minute for a last-man foul. Fortunately for Milan, the four-goal cushion was far too big to throw away.

For Salzburg, the defeat ended a 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Before hosting Milan, Danny Rohl's side had also gone unbeaten in six official home games this season with three consecutive clean sheets — a record that collapsed in a single night in front of their own fans.